One of Brit's "employee seconds?"

J.T. · 01-26-2012, 11:23 PM

This one's kinda cool. Marked as a second. But it's got some unusual features. Factory Grovers, black plastics. Nicely done darkburst. I remember reading a post by Hot Brit that sometimes employee's marked a nice guitar as a second so they could get theirs hands on it cheap. Wonder if this is one of those?

1977 Gibson Les Paul Standard | eBay

HOT-BRIT · 01-26-2012, 11:27 PM

great top on that one

1981 LPC · 01-27-2012, 01:45 AM

I second that.

Progrocker111 · 01-27-2012, 01:48 AM

Small headstock in 77?

Thumpalumpacus · 01-27-2012, 01:53 AM

The back is pretty sexy too.

Oranjeaap · 01-27-2012, 04:21 AM

Very cool guitar.

HOT-BRIT · 01-27-2012, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Progrocker111

Small headstock in 77?

and Grovers

HOT-BRIT · 01-27-2012, 06:20 AM

Offset two piece top, pick-guard looks like it is of a custom and the speed knobs are not original

J.T. · 01-27-2012, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Progrocker111

Small headstock in 77?

Good eye. And am I not seeing a volute here?

HOT-BRIT · 01-27-2012, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.t.

good eye. And am i not seeing a volute here?

it douse have a volute, in the first photo of the back of the headstock the photo with the tuners on, you can see the shadow cast by the volute.

J.T. · 01-27-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

it douse have a volute, in the first photo of the back of the headstock the photo with the tuners on, you can see the shadow cast by the volute.

Very difficult to tell, given the low light and the color. Which brings up something else. The color of the neck is significantly darker than the body. I wonder if it and the volute were shaved down and resprayed - which could account for the difference in the lower half of the headstock's color. Anyone here in the Baltimore area? I'd love to get a hands on description.

KRaZeE · 01-29-2012, 02:04 AM

I'm not seeing a volute either. *shrug*

HOT-BRIT · 01-29-2012, 04:24 AM

look at the photo of the back of the headstock, the photo with the tuners on, still not convinced then send a question to the Ebay seller.

Lowdown · 01-29-2012, 06:03 AM

Beautiful.

Don't see a ski-jump though.

KRaZeE · 01-29-2012, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

look at the photo of the back of the headstock, the photo with the tuners on, still not convinced then send a question to the Ebay seller.

I looked at all the photos...looks smooth to me. If I wanted to contact the seller, I would, but I really don't give a toss...just sayin I don't see it either, that's all.

StrangeWays · 01-30-2012, 08:21 PM

The top on that Tobacco Standard is gorgeous. Tim Shaw pickups on a '77 Les Paul is interesting. If I'm not mistaken, the original asking price was $2999 now it's $2500. Baltimore is not too far away. J.T., I will call to see if I can get an in hand description of the guitar. I'll let you know.

Cookie-boy · 01-31-2012, 04:23 AM

No volute.

Nice guitar.

gtr-tek · 01-31-2012, 09:26 AM

The dates on the pots suggest that they have been replaced as have the pups. Everything there is early eighties. The neck looks to have been shaved and re-sprayed. The color is lighter around the serial number and other markings. They are asking a lot for a non-original guitar.

StrangeWays · 01-31-2012, 11:00 AM

Spoke directly with the owner. He says NO volute, and that the neck has not been shaved down or re-sprayed. Weighs in at just under 10 lbs.

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 07:28 AM

I expanded the photos and examined them carefully, i was wrong there is no volute, it was just a shadow i was seeing.
I now believe the guitar is a 1982 model, 1378136 pot codes dates the pots to being manufactured 36 week of 81, pickups are Tim Shaw reissues, the cutaway shape is the shape that was used in the early eighties and the small headstock. Also grover tuners were fitted as standard equipment at that time. But the serial number is not correct for a 1982 model, so it is a mystery for sure.

gtr-tek · 02-01-2012, 07:39 AM

Hot-Brit, how do explain the serial number then? This was made during the time they had a date code in them. It clearly has a neck that was stamped in '77 and they only serialize finished guitars. The pot codes are clearly 81. The pups are 81 & 82. The knobs are wrong as you noted. The finish around the serial number is odd to say the least. The guitar tells a different story than the owner does...

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 07:46 AM

it is a huge mystery

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 07:54 AM

large frets, the speed knobs are newer replacements, the poker chip looks new and pickguard looks like it is not original, it is a Custom style guard.

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 07:59 AM

douse the neck look like it is three piece mahogany to you guys?

Inside Guy · 02-01-2012, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtr-tek

Hot-Brit, how do explain the serial number then? This was made during the time they had a date code in them. It clearly has a neck that was stamped in '77 and they only serialize finished guitars. :

Actually, the serial number is stamped on the neck before it is fitted into the body. This is the production norm, BUT there is nothing stopping an employee from making a custom shaped neck, and stamping the serial number later on a finished guitar either.

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 08:11 AM

also the lacquer on the back of the headstock in the area around the serial number has obviously been sanded off for some reason, why? could it be because the original number was sanded off and then re-stamped with a different number?

J.T. · 02-01-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

also the lacquer around the area of the serial number has obviously been sanded off for some reason, why?

It's unclear to me whether it's been sanded off, or if a respray may have only been done up to the point where it gets lighter in color. I'm starting to wonder if this might have been a re-neck, or if someone modified the original neck. If the seller had a return policy I'd take a chance on it, just to figure out WTF it is...

gtr-tek · 02-01-2012, 08:39 AM

It does look like 3 piece mahog but could be maple. Would have been maple in '77, right? May be a parts guitar made at the factory and stamped as a second. Hence the employee second theory. This could very well be the case. Neck stamped in '77 with no volute, or volute removed, assembled in '82 with Shaws.

It is a very interesting guitar with a mysterious origin...

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 08:44 AM

looks like it could be mahogany grain but 77 would have been maple

HOT-BRIT · 02-01-2012, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.T.

It's unclear to me whether it's been sanded off, or if a respray may have only been done up to the point where it gets lighter in color. I'm starting to wonder if this might have been a re-neck, or if someone modified the original neck. If the seller had a return policy I'd take a chance on it, just to figure out WTF it is...

looks like there is no gloss on the surface in the area like it would if the lacquer was sanded off

01-26-2012, 11:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
J.T. Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: FLA, USA Posts: 1,566 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 12 Posts	One of Brit's "employee seconds?" This one's kinda cool. Marked as a second. But it's got some unusual features. Factory Grovers, black plastics. Nicely done darkburst. I remember reading a post by Hot Brit that sometimes employee's marked a nice guitar as a second so they could get theirs hands on it cheap. Wonder if this is one of those? 1977 Gibson Les Paul Standard \| eBay Lowdown and HOT-BRIT like this. __________________ LP's - '57 Alnico Custom, '61 Standard, '80 Heritage 80 Elite, '82 Heritage 80 Std., '83 Spotlight Special ASB, '83 Flametop 59 Reissue, '84 Goldtop Reissue, '05 Music Rising, '08 Spotlight proto Others - '59 ES-225TD, '64 Melody Maker, '69 Firebird I, '07 Martin OMC-28E Amps - '57 Fender Super, '77 MusicMan HD130R/212RH, '09 Orange Dual Terror 196? Echoplex EP-1 - serial # 856

01-26-2012, 11:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" great top on that one

01-27-2012, 01:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
1981 LPC Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 696 Thanks: 24 Thanked 63 Times in 9 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" I second that. HOT-BRIT likes this. __________________ Relicing guitars sucks big hairy donkey balls

01-27-2012, 01:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Progrocker111 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 848 Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Small headstock in 77? Lowdown and HOT-BRIT like this.

01-27-2012, 01:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Thumpalumpacus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 54,748 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 689 Times in 80 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" The back is pretty sexy too. HOT-BRIT likes this.

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01-27-2012, 04:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Oranjeaap Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 6,014 Thanks: 38 Thanked 78 Times in 20 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Very cool guitar. HOT-BRIT likes this. __________________

01-27-2012, 06:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Offset two piece top, pick-guard looks like it is of a custom and the speed knobs are not original

01-29-2012, 02:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
KRaZeE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 1,063 Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" I'm not seeing a volute either. shrug HOT-BRIT likes this. __________________ My Gibbos: 8x Epi FB 300 80 LP Pro Deluxe 86 LP Studio Std 87 SG Custom 91 SG Jr 93 SG Spc 94 SG Std 96 Firebird V 98 LP Std 98 Flying V 99 SG-X 01 SG Jr 02 SG Voodoo 03 Epi G-400 Vintage 07 Epi LP Std 08 SG Classic 08 SG Classic 08 Epi Goth T-Bird 10 SG 61 RI 11 SG 60s Trib 11 MM SG 12 SG 70s Trib

01-29-2012, 04:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" look at the photo of the back of the headstock, the photo with the tuners on, still not convinced then send a question to the Ebay seller.

01-29-2012, 06:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Lowdown Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 158 Thanked 44 Times in 14 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Beautiful. Don't see a ski-jump though. HOT-BRIT likes this.

01-30-2012, 08:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
StrangeWays Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" The top on that Tobacco Standard is gorgeous. Tim Shaw pickups on a '77 Les Paul is interesting. If I'm not mistaken, the original asking price was $2999 now it's $2500. Baltimore is not too far away. J.T., I will call to see if I can get an in hand description of the guitar. I'll let you know. HOT-BRIT likes this.

01-31-2012, 04:23 AM	#17 (permalink)
Cookie-boy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Under the care, custody and control of Matron. Posts: 15,236 Thanks: 554 Thanked 1,617 Times in 317 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" No volute. Nice guitar. HOT-BRIT likes this.

01-31-2012, 09:26 AM	#18 (permalink)
gtr-tek Fumble Fingers Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Somewhere in Tornado Alley Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 43 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" The dates on the pots suggest that they have been replaced as have the pups. Everything there is early eighties. The neck looks to have been shaved and re-sprayed. The color is lighter around the serial number and other markings. They are asking a lot for a non-original guitar. HOT-BRIT likes this. __________________ Les is more!

01-31-2012, 11:00 AM	#19 (permalink)
StrangeWays Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Spoke directly with the owner. He says NO volute, and that the neck has not been shaved down or re-sprayed. Weighs in at just under 10 lbs. HOT-BRIT likes this.

02-01-2012, 07:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" I expanded the photos and examined them carefully, i was wrong there is no volute, it was just a shadow i was seeing. I now believe the guitar is a 1982 model, 1378136 pot codes dates the pots to being manufactured 36 week of 81, pickups are Tim Shaw reissues, the cutaway shape is the shape that was used in the early eighties and the small headstock. Also grover tuners were fitted as standard equipment at that time. But the serial number is not correct for a 1982 model, so it is a mystery for sure.

02-01-2012, 07:39 AM	#21 (permalink)
gtr-tek Fumble Fingers Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Somewhere in Tornado Alley Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 43 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" Hot-Brit, how do explain the serial number then? This was made during the time they had a date code in them. It clearly has a neck that was stamped in '77 and they only serialize finished guitars. The pot codes are clearly 81. The pups are 81 & 82. The knobs are wrong as you noted. The finish around the serial number is odd to say the least. The guitar tells a different story than the owner does... __________________ Les is more!

02-01-2012, 07:46 AM	#22 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" it is a huge mystery

02-01-2012, 07:54 AM	#23 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" large frets, the speed knobs are newer replacements, the poker chip looks new and pickguard looks like it is not original, it is a Custom style guard.

02-01-2012, 07:59 AM	#24 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" douse the neck look like it is three piece mahogany to you guys?

02-01-2012, 08:11 AM	#26 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" also the lacquer on the back of the headstock in the area around the serial number has obviously been sanded off for some reason, why? could it be because the original number was sanded off and then re-stamped with a different number?

02-01-2012, 08:39 AM	#28 (permalink)
gtr-tek Fumble Fingers Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Somewhere in Tornado Alley Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 43 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" It does look like 3 piece mahog but could be maple. Would have been maple in '77, right? May be a parts guitar made at the factory and stamped as a second. Hence the employee second theory. This could very well be the case. Neck stamped in '77 with no volute, or volute removed, assembled in '82 with Shaws. It is a very interesting guitar with a mysterious origin... HOT-BRIT likes this. __________________ Les is more!

02-01-2012, 08:44 AM	#29 (permalink)
HOT-BRIT V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 19,346 Thanks: 87 Thanked 281 Times in 52 Posts	Re: One of Brit's "employee seconds?" looks like it could be mahogany grain but 77 would have been maple

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